Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials will lethally remove a small herd of California bighorn sheep in Reynolds Creek this winter after confirming a pneumonia outbreak caused by Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae.
The herd, part of Unit 40 in the Owyhee region, is relatively isolated but occasionally intermingles with other groups, posing a serious risk to Idaho’s core bighorn populations.
“This was a difficult decision because no one wants to see these sheep die,” said Wildlife Bureau Chief Shane Roberts, calling the action necessary to protect the broader herd.
Years of intensive monitoring allowed early detection, marking the first outbreak in the Owyhees. The Wild Sheep Foundation endorsed the effort. Removal will be conducted by helicopter to ensure success, with salvageable meat processed and donated to Idaho families in need.
